Untitled Project
By Kaitlyn Thompson
Part 1
“Oh, Zeg. What have we done?” She asked mournfully looking out at the once vibrant, blossoming landscape that was now a barren wasteland. The towering buildings were toppled. The people of the planet stared at the explorers with a mix of hatred and fear on their faces. Every one of them had the question of ‘why?’ in their minds.Zeg looked at the same scene and shook his head. “Don’t let it get to you.” He said, turning away from the guilt. He started walking for the spaceship behind them that was readying for take-off. Readying to leave the problems they had caused behind them.She looked down at her hand and noticed the jar that seemed full of golden light. Her grip on it tightened and she spun around to face the retreating Zeg.“Was it worth it?” she demanded. Zeg stopped and turned part way to look at her. “Was this,” she thrust the jar out, “worth destroying this?” she swept her other arm out at the desolate place. Her face was contorted trying to hold back tears. Zeg’s face hardened.“Get on the ship, Paic.” As if to echo his order, the whine of the engines kicked up an octave. The wind of an approaching dust storm blew Paic’s hair around her face as she turned back to look at the scene once more. The people had run for cover and she couldn’t control the tears anymore. One ran down her cheek. Briefly, the thought of staying crossed her mind but the roar of the engines and Zeg’s cry quickly squelched it.She turned and ran for the blue lights of the gang plank. The dust and her tears had erased any other sights except those lights. Paic had to jump to get on the rising plank but she made it in time. The roar of the storm faded in the calm of the ship as the hum of machinery took over. She thrust the wretched jar at Scrogg, the ship’s engineer, who juggled to keep it from breaking and spilling its precious contents. Scrogg cast Paic a dirty look but she had already moved to her seat.She sat down in the seat and the straps quickly snapped into place around her. Paic rested her chin on her hand as she strained to forget the looks on the people’s faces, on Nyholm’s face. Every time she closed her eyes she saw his iridescent, glowing green eyes looking quizzically at her. They looked puzzled for a minute, then understood and finally looked betrayed. Paic opened her eyes again, unable to picture his anymore.Zeg, who was in the seat next to Paic, reached out and took her hand. Though she couldn’t really feel his hand through the body armor they both were wearing, she felt the pressure. She turned to look at him, her earlier question still on her mind. Zeg tried to smile and nod encouragingly and squeezed her hand. Paic shook her head and withdrew her hand; she turned as far away from him as she could in the restraints. She looked out the window and watched as the land slowly disappeared beneath them in a cloud of dust.
“When did it happen?” Paic asked after some time had passed. Zeg started to hear her speak, he had thought she was going to remain quiet their entire trip back to Earth.“When did what happen?” he asked, looking at her. She turned to look at him, tear trails stained on her cheeks.“When did we go from explorers to destroyers?” she asked in a harsh voice. Zeg looked furtively around to see if anyone else had heard her question. But the rest of the crew was busy not listening.“We’re not destroyers-” he insisted in a whisper.“What do you call what we just did?” she demanded. Several of the crew looked up and over at them. Zeg waved them back to their work and gave Paic a look to remain quiet. He sat back in his seat and adjusted the straps that suddenly felt very constricting.“We’re not destroyers.” He repeated. “We saved our entire planet from being plunged back into the Dark Ages.”“And where did we send those people?”“The Tuoma didn’t utilize the resources they were sitting right on top of. Such precious commodities shouldn’t go to waste.” Zeg pulled again at his straps. “We’ll use it much better than they ever will.”“That’s your excuse?” she asked, disgust apparent in her voice. Paic pressed a button to release the straps and stood up. Zeg searched for an answer that didn’t make him sound like a chauvinist but he couldn’t find one.“Why do you suddenly care?” he said, his chocolate eyes glaring at her. He stood up so he wouldn’t have to look up at her. “You were with us the whole time. You begged me to go on this mission.” His voice rose with anger.“I didn’t know the mission was going to condemn an entire planet to death!” she shouted back. The silence on the ship was louder than anything as everyone watched Zeg. He was looking directly at Paic, a million emotions crossed his face but they all disappeared before he spoke.“You are confined to your quarters, Lt. Paic.”Paic’s face changed from one of anger to disbelief. “You’re pulling rank on me?”“That’s an order.” He stared at her, waiting for her to follow it. But she didn’t move. “Do you dare defy me?” For a moment, it appeared she was going to. But Paic pulled herself up taller and saluted him.“No. Captain.” She said, somehow making it sound like a mockery. Paic turned on her heel and left the main deck. Zeg never thought that it was possible for air-lock doors to slam shut until that moment.
The End...for now. :) Until tomorrow, stay awesome!
~Kate
